Discussing controversial issues in the classroom

Discussion is widely held to be the pedagogical approach most appropriate to the exploration of controversial issues in the classroom, but surprisingly little attention has been given to the questions of why it is the preferred approach and how best to facilitate it. Here we address ourselves to both questions.We begin by clarifying the concept of discussion and justifying it as an approach to the teaching of controversial issues.We then report on a recent empirical study of the Perspectives on Science AS-level course, focusing on what it revealed about aids and impediments to discussion of controversial ethical issues

Teaching and learning about controversial science issues

The overarching Nature of Science (NoS) strand in our revised science curriculum presents teachers of science with a number of challenges. One of them is the ‘Participating and Contributing’ achievement aim with its focus on controversial science issues (CSI). This article reports on a new classroom model for exploring controversial science issues with students that was trialled in New Zealand science classrooms, writes Dr. Kathy Saunders, the University of Waikato

The Role of Controversial Issues in Moral Education: Approaches and Attitudes of Christian School Educators

This study investigated the approaches and attitudes of Christian school teachers as they addressed controversial issues in moral education. Thirteen teachers from four schools were interviewed extensively. A hermeneutic phenomenological methodology was implemented. Participants conveyed that they attempted to remain pedagogically neutral in matters relating to denominational differences among Christian churches. While acknowledging that indoctrinative techniques may alienate students, teachers chose to indoctrinate selectively, especially in matters critical to the Christian faith. Issues impacting the classrooms included abortion, sex, doctrine, homosexuality, evolution, etc. Teachers rarely chose to remain neutral on controversial issues unless by doing so they sensed that they would undermine parental authority or a particular Christian church’s denominational doctrine

Taking Drugs to Help Others

Every day the news shows us provoking stories about what's going on in the world, about events which raise moral questions and problems. In Philosophers Take On the World a team of philosophers get to grips with a variety of these controversial issues, from the amusing to the shocking, in short, engaging, often controversial pieces. This chapter covers drug use, making you think again about the judgements we make on a daily basis and the ways in which we choose to conduct our lives

HOW TO HELP GROUPS DEVELOP AN UNDERSTANDING OF CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES

Institutional and Behavioral Economics,

Evaluation of the Fighting Back Initiative

This case study describes an evaluation of a large-scale, multi-site effort to harness community-generated strategies to reduce the use and abuse of alcohol and illegal drugs. The findings of this controversial study were sharply questioned by stakeholders and the case illustrates how important issues of program design affected evaluation finding

Chicago Foundation for Women 2012 Annual Report

Chicago women and girls face difficult and inter-related issues of ecnomic security, access to education, domestic violence, immigration and access to healthcare. Every day the grantees tackle these complicated, controversial, sometimes life threatening problems with shoestring budgets so women and girls can meet their full potential. Given the escalating needs of the community. Chicago Foundation for Women takes a comprehensive, systematoc approach in the support we provide, looking at multiple issues affecting Chicago area women and gilrs throughout their whole lives